Method of forming detents



1940- LE ROY F. DENSMORE 2,216,878

METHOD OF FORMING DETINTS r11 "r11 4. 193a INVENTOR. LEROY F. DENSMORE.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1 940 PATENT oFFlcs METHOD FORMING DET'ENTS I Leroy F.Densmore, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Snap-OnTools, Inc., Kenosha, Wis.,a corporation of Delaware Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,804

6 Claims. (01. 29-148) 'I'his invention relates to spring impelled.detents and theirmethod of confinement, although certain featuresthereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of novel means for moreeffectively swaging the periphery of a recess to confineinstrumentalities therein such as spring impelled detents.

The usual swaging operation commands the use of a die or punch that hasa smooth peripheral cutting outline to. uniformly displace the metalaround the open orifice of a recess so as to retain the detent or otherinstrumentality therein. It has been found through long usage that suchswaging operations and methods of forming indentures do noteffectivelyretain the detent in position in that the metal defining theorifice is compressed down into the recess rather then extended radiallyinward near the surface of the hole to render the swaging effective. Byso doing, the usual swaging die presses the material around the recessdownwardly and in a direction parallelto the axis of the recess so as toeffect only slight inward extension in the material in partially closingthe opening.

With the teachings of the present invention, the swaging effect isproduced so as to cause the material to fiow radially inward near thesurface of the metal to effectively provide a substantia1 enclosure forthe recess opening ,to retain a spring impelled detent or otherinstrumentalities therein.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved method ofswaging the material surrounding the opening of a recess so as toeffectively retaininstrinnentalities such as a spring impelled detenttherein.

Another object is to provide a detent con fining recess by resort to animproved swaging operation.

Still another object is to irregularly swage the region of an open endrecess by applying alternately varying degrees of cold metal flowingforce to partially enclose said opening against removal'of the detent.

A further object is to impart a serrated swaging effect to the open endregion of a recess to effectively retain an instrumentality such as adetent therein.

A still further object is to partially closethe open end of a recess byirregularly swaging the region thereof along radially converging linesto partially enclose the detent.

Still a further object is to provide a v serrated orifice defining theopen end of a reradially cess to effectively retain a detent or otherin-,

strumentality therein.

Other objects and advantages willappear from the following descriptionofan illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary side view of a wrench socket handle showingtheusual and customary swaged recess therein; this forming no part ofthe invention and merely being illustrated to show the known swagingoperation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line II-II ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view of the usual swaging tool that isused in producing a swaging effect as shown in Figures 1 and 2, partsthereof being broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of a socket shank showing theinitial step of drilling or otherwise forming a recess in the polygonalextension thereof, parts thereof being broken away to clarify theshowing.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the next step ofinserting a spring and detent on the recess.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing the next sequential stepof impacting the orifice defining region of a recess in a mannerembodying features of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the resultant effectproduced with the toolshown in Figure 6 as a result of the impactproduced therein.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view in elevation of the device shown inFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view of an improved swaging toolembodying features of the present invention, the swaging head beingpartially broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 10 is a plan or end View of a sWaging tool head embodyingfeatures of the present invention.

The structure selected for illustration in Figures l to 3 show the usualtype of swaging tool and'effect produced therewith. This illustratedembodiment comprises a handle shank lil which terminates in any suitabletype of extension which, in this instance, has a polygonal socketreceiving portion II of reduced dimensional extent so as to define ashoulder l2 against which the socket will rest. A recess I3 is drilledor otherwise formed transversely in the socket receiving portion I] soas to extend transversely therethrough for substantially the entireextent thereof so as to define an open end recess having a closed bottomI4. The recess I3 serves to confine any suitable form of instrumentalitywhich, in this instance, comprises the usual coil spring I5 haVing adiameter somewhat smaller than the recess I3 so as to serve as aresilient support for a detent I 6. The detent I6 is, in this instance,of spherical configuration and serves to frictionally engage thepolygonal aperture provided in a wrench socket so as to serve as acomplement of the shank extension II, thereby effecting engagementtherebetween owing to the resilient urge of the spring I5 on the detentI6.

I It is necessary, or at least highly desirable, that the springimpelled detent I6 should be retained within the recess I3 againstaccidental displacement therefrom and this is usually accomplished bysmoothly swaging the periphery around the open end of the recess I3 soas to provide depressed countersunk formation I! which tends to slightlydiminish the extent of the recess opening so as to preclude the detentI6 from being displaced therefrom. To this end, the diameter of thedetent I6 conforms very closely to the interior of the recess I3 so thatthe slight diminishment in the size of the recess opening created by thesmooth peripheral swage II will be effective to preclude the removal ofthe detent I6. It should be observed that the smooth peripheral swage II(Figures 1 to 3) is formed depressing the material downward and in axialalignment with the diameter of the recess I3 to the end that only a veryslight portion thereof is displaced inwardly in a radial direction todefine a slight peripheral abutment I8.

In consequence thereof, the spring I5 will normally urge the detent I 6against a slight peripheral abutment I8 created by the swagedcountersunk peripheral depression I1. This is accomplished by resort toa die having a cylindrical shank I9 that terminates in an inwardlytapered end 20 having a recess 2I in the end thereof that serves as acutting die to depress the metal downwardly into the recess I3 andsimultaneously causing a slight inward peripheral abutment I8 serving asa retainer for the detent I6. This type of swaging or embossing tool isused on hardened metal so that the body around the drilled hole iscompressed considerably. As a result of this action a comparativelysmall portion of the metal which is moved or displaced radially towardthe center of the hole is quite brittle. After use for confinement of aspring impelled detent this brittle peripheral retainer edge breaks offin the form of a small ring with the result that the spring impelleddetent drops out of the enclosure. This type of swaging has beenresorted to for many years and was thought practical in the absence ofan improved structure that the art sought, and was used in the absenceof a more effective expedient.

It has been found, however, that this type of structure can be renderedmore effective by providing the usual recess I3 in a polygonal shank I4that serves as an extension of a shank I0. The recess I3 is of the usualconstruction, and a spring I5 is confined therein to impart an outwardurge to the detent I 6. To this extent, the steps of forming aneffective swage are similar to those described in the previousembodiment, but the swaging effect is far more pronounced and ofincreased effectiveness by resorting to a die I9 having its taperedextreme region 20 provided with an improved cutting extremity 2|. Thecutting extremity 2I of the cutting die is, in this instance, providedwith radially disposed grooves 22 that provide a serrated concavesurface 23.

The serrated concave surface 23 presents radially disposed and spacedinterrupted swaging teeth 24 that present a serrated peripherallyinterrupted edge on the die I9 that serve to swage the region of an openend 25 of the recess I3. It is to be noted that the extent of theconcavity 23 in the end of the die I9 is such as to present a rathersharp peripheral serrated edge 24% along a diameter that is justslightly larger than the diameter of the recess I3 so as to effect anirregular indenture 26 for each tooth 24 on the die I9 to the end ofcausing the metal to flow inwardly toward the axis of the recess I3 todefine spaced prongs 27 that present appreciably greater retaininginfluence on the detent I fijthan the smooth peripheral swage I'Idescribed supra.

This is effected by irregularly swaging the region of the open end ofthe recess I3 by applying slightly varying degrees of impacting forceoccasioned by the serrated peripheral edge 2|. The angular peripheraledge 2! effectively flow the material inwardly owing to the splitWedging effect produced therewith (Figures 6 and 7) so that lessimpacting force is necessary and the resulting depression is lesspronounced and in a position nearer the outer surface of the recess I3(Figure '7) rather than pressing the metal down into the bodysurrounding the recess I3 (Figure 1). In other words, with the sameimpact and correspondingly sized dies I 9 and I9, the former will tendto depress the metal downwardly into the body surrounding the recess I3and along a path parallel to the axis of the recess I3 to the extent ofgiving only nominal inward radial material flow to partially enclose theopen end of the recess I3 (Figure 1). With the teachings of the presentinvention, however, the die I9 only nominally presses the metaldownwardly and causes appreciably greater inward flow to form asubstantial peripheral retaining swage 27! (Figure 7) to moreeffectively limit the outer movement of the spring impelled detent I6.

In the latter embodiment embodying teachings of the present invention,the inward wedge indenture or peripheral angular depression 26 of themetal around the opening is spaced somewhat beyond the diameter of therecess I3 so as to inwardly spread the body proximate to the recess end25 or flow the mass inwardly and upwardly to define the substantialperipheral projection 21 that effectively retains the detent I6. Thesharp peripheral serrated edge 24 tends to move the material inwardlytoward the center of the hole and always upwardly to define asubstantially peripheral projecting body 27 which will not break loosefrom normal usage of the detent I6. By resort to the usual swaging dieI9, however, the material around the recess opening II is depressedsubstantially downwardly along the diameter of the recess 53 (Figure 1)rather than radially inward therebeyond so as to only form acomparatively slight peripheral brittle edge resulting from the inwardflow of metal that is usually termed a swaging operation, this beingreadily seen from the comparative showings in Figures 1 to 3, on onehand, and in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, on the other hand. As a result,

strued as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structuralembodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrecessing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting a looselyfitting detent through said open end for lodgement in the recess, andthen partially closing said open end by swaging indentations irregularlydepressed axially toward the region of said open end to partiallyenclose said opening against removal of the detent.

2. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrec-essing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting aloosely fitting detent through said open end for lodgement in therecess, and then partially closing said open end by irregularly swagingaxially toward the region of said open end to partially enclose saidopening against removal of the detent.

3. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrecessing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting a looselyfitting detent through said open end for lodgement in the recess, andthen partially closing said open end by irregularly swaging said shankmember in the region of said open end along radial converging lanes topartially enclose said opening against removal of the detent.

4. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrecessing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting alooselyfitting detent through said open end for lodgement in the recess,and then partially closing said open end by irregularly swagingindentations in said shank member adjacent the region of said open endby applying alternately varying degrees of cold metal flowing force topartially enclose said opening against removal of the detent.

5. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrecessing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting a looselyfitting detent through said openend for lodgement in the recess, andthen partially closing said open end by circumferentially indenting andswaging the material of said shank member adjacent the open end thereinalong diametrical lines slightly beyond the wall of said recess toradially tend to close the open end thereof.

6. A method of forming a metal detent retaining recess which consists inrecessing a shank member to define an open end, then inserting a looselyfitting detent through said open end for lodgement in the recess, andthen partially clos-' ing said shank member adjacent in the region ofthe open end by circumferentially and alternately indenting the materialalong a diameter slightly beyond the wall of said recess to radiallytend to close the open end thereof.

LEROY F. DENSMORE.

